Sub-group on Best Practice in GM crop Design

This site summaries the role and responsibilities of the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE) subgroup on Best Practice in GM Crop Design which was established in December 1999.

Terms of reference

The ACRE subgroup had the following terms of reference:

• To advise the ACRE on best practice issues which are identified with respect to the deliberate release of genetically modified crops into the environment;
• To identify and consider new GM technologies and advise ACRE on how these should be addressed in risk assessment;
• The subgroup will report only to ACRE. ACRE will monitor the work of the subgroup;
• The sub-group may consult or seek wider views in the course of its deliberations.

Four meetings were held in 2000. Minutes of the meetings are available below.

The subgroup had a core membership made up of plant and microbial geneticists; invited guests provided additional expertise in specific areas.

Minutes of Sub-group Meetings

24th February 2000
4th April 2000
17th May 2000
29 June 2000

Publications

A priority of the ACRE subgroup was to prepare guidance, for practitioners developing GM crops for the market-place, on best practice in GM crop design. After consultations, a final version of the guidance was issued in the first half of 2001. See:

• Guidance on Principles of Best Practice in the Design of Genetically Modified Plants (final version)

• Overview of responses to the consultation on ACRE's proposals for Guidance on Best Practice in the Design of Genetically Modified (GM) Crops

• Guidance on Best Practice in the Design of Genetically Modified Crops (Consultation draft)
• Unnecessary Transgene Integration and Expression in Plants: How do we minimise and manage this?